I'm not a teacher, but I tutor on and off for cash and it's like teaching because usually the kids do not know anything. I've had one who couldn't read clocks. A few who do not know how many seconds in a minute/how many minutes in an hour/how many hours in a day. Imagine having to keep a straight face and pretend like that's a normal and acceptable gap in knowledge. I say kids but they're in high school. And don't worry, I don't do english, I'm aware of my horrible grammar on this forum.

(February 1, 2014 at 12:46 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote: I'm not a teacher, but I tutor on and off for cash and it's like teaching because usually the kids do not know anything. I've had one who couldn't read clocks. A few who do not know how many seconds in a minute/how many minutes in an hour/how many hours in a day. Imagine having to keep a straight face and pretend like that's a normal and acceptable gap in knowledge. I say kids but they're in high school. And don't worry, I don't do english, I'm aware of my horrible grammar on this forum.

You'd be shocked how many kids in middle school don't understand the analog clock.

(February 1, 2014 at 12:56 pm)ElleBelle Wrote:

(February 1, 2014 at 12:46 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote: I'm not a teacher, but I tutor on and off for cash and it's like teaching because usually the kids do not know anything. I've had one who couldn't read clocks. A few who do not know how many seconds in a minute/how many minutes in an hour/how many hours in a day. Imagine having to keep a straight face and pretend like that's a normal and acceptable gap in knowledge. I say kids but they're in high school. And don't worry, I don't do english, I'm aware of my horrible grammar on this forum.

You'd be shocked how many kids in middle school don't understand the analog clock.

I was, I'm not anymore. But why is that? I blame it on the parents, it's something you learn at home, no? I don't remember when I learned to read the clock. But I know I could read a calendar by age 4, one of my earliest memory.

(February 1, 2014 at 1:03 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote:

(February 1, 2014 at 12:56 pm)ElleBelle Wrote: You'd be shocked how many kids in middle school don't understand the analog clock.

I was, I'm not anymore. But why is that? I blame it on the parents, it's something you learn at home, no? I don't remember when I learned to read the clock. But I know I could read a calendar by age 4, one of my earliest memory.

I don't believe it's as emphasized in early education anymore. It's a digital age, and this generation has grown up on digital clocks. Eventually analog will become nonexistent. It's essentially the same as this generation not knowing how to read a sundial, I'm assuming.

(February 1, 2014 at 1:07 pm)ElleBelle Wrote:

(February 1, 2014 at 1:03 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote: I was, I'm not anymore. But why is that? I blame it on the parents, it's something you learn at home, no? I don't remember when I learned to read the clock. But I know I could read a calendar by age 4, one of my earliest memory.

I don't believe it's as emphasized in early education anymore. It's a digital age, and this generation has grown up on digital clocks. Eventually analog will become nonexistent. It's essentially the same as this generation not knowing how to read a sundial, I'm assuming.

But I'm only 21, so about 3-5 years away from the current high school generation. It's not the same as sundials that were phased out like ... at least a hundred years ago? For good reason, too, they weren't very functional. Analog clocks will be around for a longer time because of companies like Rolex and such. Maybe one day it'll become like the fountain pen. Although I think pens are more likely to be phased out compared to clocks. Most of the exam halls I've been in only have analog wall clocks, of course everyone can bring their own watches. But I still think it's an essential skill and not that hard to learn.

(February 1, 2014 at 1:22 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote:

(February 1, 2014 at 1:07 pm)ElleBelle Wrote: I don't believe it's as emphasized in early education anymore. It's a digital age, and this generation has grown up on digital clocks. Eventually analog will become nonexistent. It's essentially the same as this generation not knowing how to read a sundial, I'm assuming.

But I'm only 21, so about 3-5 years away from the current high school generation. It's not the same as sundials that were phased out like ... at least a hundred years ago? For good reason, too, they weren't very functional. Analog clocks will be around for a longer time because of companies like Rolex and such. Maybe one day it'll become like the fountain pen. Although I think pens are more likely to be phased out compared to clocks. Most of the exam halls I've been in only have analog wall clocks, of course everyone can bring their own watches. But I still think it's an essential skill and not that hard to learn.

I agree with you, I believe it's a skill they should all possess. And I wasn't saying analog clocks were getting phased out tomorrow. But they will be phased out. You could argue they aren't very functional and accurate either, mine in my classroom is constantly shooting 5 minutes ahead, making the kids in my room pay attention even less the last five minutes of class.

Hats off to you for tutoring though. We know we all need more one on one with kids. I have to tutor two days after school each week, and I admit it can become extremely frustrating. Most of the kids sent to tutoring are sent by their parents, and would rather set your room on fire than stay after school for 30 minutes.

(February 1, 2014 at 1:50 pm)ElleBelle Wrote:

(February 1, 2014 at 1:22 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote: But I'm only 21, so about 3-5 years away from the current high school generation. It's not the same as sundials that were phased out like ... at least a hundred years ago? For good reason, too, they weren't very functional. Analog clocks will be around for a longer time because of companies like Rolex and such. Maybe one day it'll become like the fountain pen. Although I think pens are more likely to be phased out compared to clocks. Most of the exam halls I've been in only have analog wall clocks, of course everyone can bring their own watches. But I still think it's an essential skill and not that hard to learn.

I agree with you, I believe it's a skill they should all possess. And I wasn't saying analog clocks were getting phased out tomorrow. But they will be phased out. You could argue they aren't very functional and accurate either, mine in my classroom is constantly shooting 5 minutes ahead, making the kids in my room pay attention even less the last five minutes of class.

Hats off to you for tutoring though. We know we all need more one on one with kids. I have to tutor two days after school each week, and I admit it can become extremely frustrating. Most of the kids sent to tutoring are sent by their parents, and would rather set your room on fire than stay after school for 30 minutes.

Yea, the dynamics in tutoring is quite hard to work with. The kid doesn't want to be there and doesn't want to work. The parents are expecting results. If you don't please both parties, they're not coming back. And parents are sometimes unreasonable in their expectations, I've had so many students who want a session the night before their exams having done no revision of their own, and their parents ask me if the kids are ready after 2 hours .

Sometimes you run into problematic parents. I've dealt with several myself. Having to do with special Ed is a different beast too, seeing as my kids are all on IEP's.

It's all my fault though, if course.

I used to teach music as a sideline. I taught both adults and children, and the little kids were MUCH easier to teach. If you have a student of six years or so and you tell them to go home and practice scales for a week, they'll do it. If you get a 25 year old and ask them to practice scales for a week, they come back for the next lesson, all proud that they've figured out the chord progressions for 'Flirtin' With Disaster.'

Boru

Yes, the younger the better. Before they reach middle school, they might actually still be under the impression that I'm not totally clueless.